Ranat ek
Encyclopedia
The ranad ek is a Thai xylophone
. It has 21 or 22 wooden bars suspended by cords over a boat-shaped trough resonator, and is played with two mallets. It is used as a leading instrument in the piphat
ensemble.
The ranad ek is played by two types of mallets. The hard mallets create the sharp bright sound when they keys are hit.The hard mallets are used for more faster playing. The soft mallets create a mellow and more softer tone which is used for slower songs.
Ranad ek bars are typically made from rosewood
(Dalbergia oliveri
; ; mai ching chan), although in rare instances instruments with bamboo
bars can be found.
Some ranad ek players are able to play two instruments at the same time, placed at right angles to each other.
The ranad ek is very similar to a Cambodian xylophone called roneat ek
.
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
. It has 21 or 22 wooden bars suspended by cords over a boat-shaped trough resonator, and is played with two mallets. It is used as a leading instrument in the piphat
Piphat
A piphat is a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand, which features wind and percussion instruments. It is considered the primary form of ensemble for the interpretation of the most sacred and "high-class" compositions of the Thai classical repertoire, including the Buddhist...
ensemble.
The ranad ek is played by two types of mallets. The hard mallets create the sharp bright sound when they keys are hit.The hard mallets are used for more faster playing. The soft mallets create a mellow and more softer tone which is used for slower songs.
Ranad ek bars are typically made from rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
(Dalbergia oliveri
Dalbergia oliveri
Dalbergia oliveri is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family which grows in tree form to 15 - 30 meters in height. The fruit is a green pod containing one to two seed which turns brown to black when ripe. It is found in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam...
; ; mai ching chan), although in rare instances instruments with bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
bars can be found.
Some ranad ek players are able to play two instruments at the same time, placed at right angles to each other.
The ranad ek is very similar to a Cambodian xylophone called roneat ek
Roneat ek
The roneat ek is a xylophone used in the Khmer classical music of Cambodia. It is built in the shape of a curved, rectangular shaped boat. It has twenty-one thick bamboo or hard wood bars that are suspended from strings attached to the two walls. They are cut into pieces of the same width, but of...
.
External links
See also
- Ranad
- Ranad thum
- Ranad ek lek
- Ranad thum lek
- Traditional Thai musical instrumentsTraditional Thai musical instrumentsTraditional Thai musical instruments are the musical instruments used in the traditional and classical music of Thailand. They comprise a wide range of wind, string, and percussion instruments played by both the Thai majority as well as the nation's ethnic minorities.In the traditional Thai system...
- 2004 Thai Movie, "The Overture" about ranad-ek player Luang Pradit PhairohThe OvertureThe Overture is a 2004 Thai musical-drama film. A fictionalised account based on the life story of Thai palace musician Luang Pradit Phairoh , it follows the life of a Thai classical musician from the late 19th century to the 1940s...